My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children

is

motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a

Julian stopped her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some

which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a Happy

sing the

must close her

must blow out the

that there was no need to go

the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing effect on any of

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

on your birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice

wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at

and made a wish. After that, she blew out the

say thank you!”

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like

streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in

her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your

might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s expression was

changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then.

and headed toward the

inside her apartment and about

the door was propped open by

face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it. Suddenly, she

on business?

slid sideways into the house and shut

“I see you’ve been

steps back. Why

he stalked toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it

like unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful days,

step he approached her, forcing

Rachel had no idea what she did

staggered after